Princess and Other Cruise Lines Extend Service Suspensions

Carnival Corp’s Princess Cruises said on Wednesday its voyages would remain suspended through the end of summer as reduced flights and travel bans around the globe bring the industry to a virtual standstill.

Holland America Line, Carnival’s another unit, said it has canceled all cruises for Alaska, Europe and Canada and New England for the year, as well as its Amsterdam vessel that was scheduled to depart in October to Fort Lauderdale, Florida from Boston.

“As we continue to navigate through these unprecedented and challenging times, the best decision right now is to extend our pause in cruise operations into the fall,” Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford said.

Seabourn, another Carnival unit, also said it would cease its operations for its five cruise ships, some of them through November.

The cancellation of Princess’ cruises include those that were sailing to Hawaii and French Polynesia on Pacific Princess and departing from Japan on Diamond Princess.

The COVID-19 pandemic that has killed over a quarter of a million people around the world has taken a toll on cruise operators, as travel restrictions and fear of the virus spreading have led to multiple extensions to voyage suspensions.